[An image of the World Cup Trophy. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, excitement among soccer fans is being overshadowed by frustration over ticket prices. 

FIFA’s new dynamic pricing system, coupled with resale commissions of 15% for both buyers and sellers, has sparked concern over whether the world’s biggest sporting tournament event is becoming inaccessible for ordinary fans in the entire globe.

More than 4.5 million people entered the Visa presale event from September 10th to 19th, open exclusively to Visa cardholders. 

Addressing the overwhelming demand, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “From Canada, Mexico and the United States to countries big and small across every continent, fans are proving once again that the passion for football truly unites, as they are looking forward to attending matches in all three host nations.” 

However, what Infantino described as “the biggest, most inclusive and most exciting event ever seen” may also be the most inaccessible. 

For the first time, FIFA is implementing dynamic pricing for the World Cup where ticket prices fluctuate in real time based on demand, meaning group-stage seats that initially start at $60 can soar to $300, leaving affordable options as only a tiny proportion of available seats. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/11/fifa-2026-world-cup-tickets-dynamic-pricing-nft-resale

Furthermore, the cheapest tickets for the 2026 finals are priced at $2,030, a stark increase from the $206 price point for the 2022 final in Qatar, with the potential for further increases in later sales periods. 

FIFA’s official resale platform introduces an additional layer of expense by charging a 15% fee to both buyers and sellers,  meaning that even a $200 resale ticket could ultimately cost a buyer $230 while the seller receives only $170 after deductions.

As resale prices can fluctuate freely based on demand without an upper limit, FIFA collects commissions on each transaction, including those with hugely inflated resale prices.

Critics argue that this system benefits FIFA twice - first through initial sales and again through resale - leaving fans to bear the financial burden. 

This setup provides FIFA with a financial incentive to keep resale prices unregulated, while fans face rising costs, prompting one social media user to comment that the World Cup “unites fans, not prices them out.”

With the 2026 World Cup set to be the largest yet potentially most expensive tournament in history, FIFA faces the difficult challenge of balancing record-breaking profits with fair access for fans.

Now that the final draw on December 5 has officially determined all opponents, groups, venues, and kickoff times, the uncertainty shifts from the schedule to whether dynamic pricing will allow ordinary fans to follow these confirmed matchups.